THE IMPACT OF GOOD GOVERNANCE ON INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA (2015 – 2024)

In view of the persistent challenges faced by the IDPs in Niger State, this study was undertaken to investigates the role of the Niger State government in addressing the plights of internally displaced persons in Niger State, Nigeria with a view to finding further effective ways of attending to their challenges. It is against this background that, this study examined the role of the government intervention in the management of IDPs in Niger State (2015–2024), the challenges facing the management of IDPs in Niger State from 2015-2024 and the plausible and possible ways to improve the living conditions of IDPs in Niger State. The study therefore used a qualitative approach to examine the impact of Niger State government on IDPs in Niger State between 2015 and 2024. Primary data was collected through structured interviews with key stakeholders including government officials, representatives of humanitarian organizations, community leaders, and IDPs themselves. Secondary data analysis involved reviewing policy documents, humanitarian reports, academic publications, and statistical data related to displacement in Niger State. The assessment revealed significant challenges in the coordination of IDP management in Niger State between 2015 and 2024. Similar to findings, there was evidence of poor coordination of IDPs in Nigeria, as governance approaches tended to focus on immediate humanitarian needs rather than sustainable solutions. The assessment also found that governance mechanisms failed to adequately engage IDPs in planning processes for durable solutions, limiting the effectiveness and sustainability of interventions. To address these challenges, the study recommends that  governance bodies should establish a unified coordination platform that clearly delineates roles and responsibilities among all stakeholders involved in IDP management, authorities should develop and implement a comprehensive protection framework specifically for IDPs to address physical security and psychosocial support, governance structures should promote inclusive governance and participation by encouraging the participation of local communities, civil society, and marginalized groups in the design and implementation of security policies and government should enhanced data collection and management systems to track displacement patterns, needs assessments, and intervention impacts.